30 Useful English Phrases from September — Easy English Conversation

Transcript

Intro

A: Today is different. No new topic — we’re going back over September.

B: Thirty phrases from this month, in six groups, and each group ends with a short conversation.

A: Free time and people, eating out, getting around, work, words people mix up, and opinions and politeness.

B: Then one long week that brings the groups together, and a quick review at the end. Every episode we mention is linked below.

A: You can practice these phrases in Recursio — the link is in the description.

B: Let’s start with the weekend.

Free time and people

A: Group one — from “Hobbies and Free Time” and “Describing People.”

B: Number one: to be into something. You really like it, and you spend time on it. “I’m really into cycling.”

A: Number two: It’s not really my thing. A friendly way to say you don’t enjoy something, without saying anything bad about it.

B: Number three: to take up a hobby. To start a new activity. “I took up yoga last year.”

A: Number four: easy-going. A relaxed person who doesn’t get upset easily.

B: And number five: a good sense of humor. Someone who can be funny — and enjoys a good joke.

A: Let’s use them. You’ve just moved into a new apartment, and I’m asking about your roommate.

B: Go ahead.

A: So, what’s your new roommate like?

B: Really easy-going. Nothing bothers her. And she has a great sense of humor.

A: What does she do in her free time?

B: She’s really into rock climbing. She wants me to try it this weekend.

A: And will you?

B: Honestly, it’s not really my thing. I don’t like heights.

A: Maybe you could take up something closer to the ground.

B: Way ahead of you — I just took up tennis.

A: Five phrases, one roommate, and nobody had to climb anything.

B: One pair from the hobbies episode is worth a second look.

A: “Into” and “keen on”?

B: Yes. “To be keen on something” means almost the same as “to be into something,” but you’ll hear it more in British English. In everyday American English, “into” is the usual choice.

A: And from the people episode, one small phrase that saves you from pointing.

B: “The one in the blue jacket.” You describe the clothes, not the person, and everybody knows who you mean.

Eating out

A: Group two — from “Eating Out at a Restaurant” and “Ten Food Mistakes.”

B: Number six: to make a reservation. To book a table before you go.

A: Number seven: What do you recommend? The question that lets the server choose for you.

B: Number eight: to be allergic to something. “I’m allergic to peanuts.” Say it clearly, even if you feel shy about it.

A: Number nine: Could I get the check? In American English, you ask for the check. In British English, it’s usually the bill.

B: And number ten: I’m starving. It means you’re very, very hungry — not that you’re really in danger.

A: A restaurant, then. You’re the server.

B: Good evening. Do you have a reservation?

A: Yes, I made a reservation for seven o’clock. It’s under Alex.

B: Right this way. Are you ready to order?

A: Almost. I’m starving, so I’d like to order quickly. What do you recommend?

B: The chicken is very popular tonight. It comes with a peanut sauce.

A: Oh — I’m allergic to peanuts. Could I have it without the sauce?

B: Of course. I’ll tell the kitchen.

A: Thank you.

B: An hour later, the plates are empty.

A: That was great. Could I get the check, please?

B: Five phrases, one dinner, and one safe meal.

A: And one from the food mistakes episode that surprises a lot of people.

B: Cook and cooker.

A: A cook is a person. In British English, a cooker is the machine you cook on. In American English, that’s a stove.

B: So your mom can be a great cook — but never a great cooker.

Getting around

A: Group three — from “Asking for Directions” and “Cars and Driving.”

B: Number eleven: “Excuse me, how do I get to the station?” That’s the polite way to start asking for directions — just change the place at the end.

A: Number twelve: It’s just around the corner. Very close — maybe a minute or two on foot.

B: Number thirteen: to give someone a ride. To take someone somewhere in your car. In British English, people often say “give someone a lift.”

A: Number fourteen: to pull over. To move the car to the side of the road and stop.

B: And number fifteen: a flat tire. A tire with no air in it.

A: Let’s put them in one scene. I’m lost in a small town, and you’re driving past.

B: Okay. You wave at my car.

A: Excuse me, how do I get to the train station?

B: The station? It’s across town — about twenty minutes on foot, and you’re walking the wrong way. Get in, I’ll give you a ride.

A: That’s really kind of you.

B: Hmm. Something doesn’t feel right. I’m going to pull over.

A: What happened?

B: We have a flat tire.

A: Oh no. How far is the station from here?

B: Actually, it’s just around the corner now. Honestly, today you’ll be faster than me.

A: Then thank you anyway — and good luck with the tire.

B: Five phrases, and one very short ride.

A: If you want to keep these phrases, save them in Recursio — it brings them back before you forget.

At work

B: Group four — from “Meetings and Emails.”

A: Number sixteen: Does that work for you? The polite way to check a time. “How about Tuesday at ten? Does that work for you?”

B: Number seventeen: I’m running late. You’re going to be late, and you say so early.

A: Number eighteen: to follow up. To contact someone again about something you talked about before.

B: Number nineteen: to keep someone in the loop. To keep someone informed, so they always know what’s happening.

A: And number twenty: I’ll get back to you. You don’t have the answer yet, but you’ll reply later.

B: Let’s hear a work call. I’m your manager, and it’s nine in the morning.

A: I’m ready.

B: Hi, the meeting’s starting. Where are you?

A: Yes, sorry — I’m running late. My train is stuck outside the station. About ten minutes.

B: No problem. Quick question first: can we meet on Thursday at two? Does that work for you?

A: Probably. Let me check with the design team, and I’ll get back to you this afternoon.

B: Great. And please keep me in the loop about the new client.

A: Of course. I’ll follow up with them today and send you a short update.

B: Five phrases, and nobody sounded stressed.

A: One small thing from the email half of that episode.

B: “Please find attached”?

A: It’s still common in formal emails. But in most everyday emails, “I’ve attached the report” is simpler.

B: Both are correct. The second one just sounds more like a person.

Words people mix up

A: Group five — from “Ten Word Pairs Learners Mix Up” and “Ten Preposition Mistakes.”

B: Number twenty-one: borrow or lend. You borrow from someone. You lend to someone. “Can I borrow your pen?” “Can you lend me your pen?”

A: Number twenty-two: say or tell. You say something. You tell someone something. “She said hello.” “She told me the news.”

B: Number twenty-three: make or do. Roughly, you make things — dinner, a plan, a decision — and you do tasks — the dishes, your homework. Some you just have to learn, like “make the bed” — it’s a task, but we say make.

A: Number twenty-four: arrive in or arrive at. You arrive in a city or a country. You arrive at a building or a place. “We arrived in Chicago.” “We arrived at the hotel.”

B: And number twenty-five: on time or in time. “On time” means at the planned time. “In time” means early enough for something. “We got there just in time for the movie.”

A: Let’s hear all five in one story. You were traveling last weekend.

B: I was. Ask me anything.

A: So, how was the trip?

B: Tiring. We arrived in Boston at midnight, and we arrived at the hotel at one.

A: Did your flight leave on time?

B: No, it was an hour late. We made our connection just in time.

A: And your sister met you there?

B: Yes. She told me she’d wait at the airport, and she did. She even lent me her coat, because I forgot mine.

A: So you borrowed her coat.

B: Exactly. I borrowed it, she lent it. And on Sunday I did nothing at all — I didn’t even make dinner.

A: And what did she say about that?

B: She said, “Next time, you’re cooking.”

A: Five pairs, and every word in the right place.

B: And one more from the prepositions episode that people get wrong all the time.

A: “Wait for”?

B: Yes. You wait for someone, not “wait someone.” “I’m waiting for the bus.”

Opinions and politeness

A: Group six — from “Giving Your Opinion” and “Ten Sentences That Sound Rude.”

B: Number twenty-six: If you ask me. A relaxed way to give your view. “If you ask me, the old logo was better.”

A: Number twenty-seven: I see where you’re coming from. You understand the other person’s reasons, even if you don’t fully agree.

B: Number twenty-eight: to agree to disagree. You both stop arguing and accept that you think differently.

A: Number twenty-nine: Could I have something? A question instead of an instruction. “Could I have the salt, please?” — not “Give me the salt.”

B: And number thirty: You might want to. A suggestion, not an order. “You might want to call the bank.”

A: A family dinner, and a small disagreement.

B: I’ll start.

A: Go on.

B: Did you watch the new version of that movie?

A: I did. Could I have the potatoes, please? Thanks. If you ask me, the old one was better.

B: Really? I loved the new one. The music, the colors — everything.

A: I see where you’re coming from. It looks great. But the story felt slow.

B: Then let’s agree to disagree.

A: Fair enough. But you might want to watch the old one again. You might change your mind.

B: Five phrases — and nobody left the table angry.

A: And one from the “rude” episode that isn’t about tone at all.

B: “What do you call it?”

A: Right. People often say “How do you call it?”, but in English the question is “What do you call it?”

B: One word changes, and the question works.

One long week

A: Before the review, let’s do something harder. One week, Monday to Friday, with phrases from every group.

B: I’ll narrate, you speak.

A: Ready.

B: Monday morning. Your bus is slow, and your meeting starts in five minutes. You message your manager.

A: I’m running late — about ten minutes. Sorry!

B: At the meeting, she suggests Wednesday at nine for the next one.

A: Let me check my calendar, and I’ll get back to you.

B: Tuesday. A new coworker asks what you do on the weekend.

A: I’m really into hiking. And I just took up the guitar, but I’m terrible.

B: She says she tried hiking once, and it’s not really her thing. Then she needs a pen.

A: Sure, I can lend you mine.

B: Wednesday. You’re driving to a client on the other side of town, and the car starts to shake.

A: Something’s wrong. I’m going to pull over.

B: You get out and look at the wheel.

A: It’s a flat tire. I’ll message my manager — I need to keep her in the loop.

B: A coworker drives by and stops next to you.

A: Could you give me a ride to the office?

B: She says yes, of course.

A: Thank you — you’re a lifesaver.

B: Thursday. You’re meeting a friend at a restaurant in a new neighborhood.

A: Excuse me, how do I get to Rosa’s Kitchen?

B: A man says it’s just around the corner. Two minutes later, you’re there.

A: I arrived at the restaurant on time — for once.

B: Your friend is already reading the menu.

A: I’m starving. What do you recommend here?

B: She says the fish is great, but the sauce has nuts in it.

A: Then not for me. I’m allergic to nuts.

B: At the end of the evening, you catch the server’s eye.

A: Could I get the check, please?

B: Friday. Your friend says the new café downstairs is the best in town. You don’t agree.

A: I see where you’re coming from — the coffee is good. But if you ask me, it’s too noisy.

B: Your friend doesn’t give up.

A: Okay. Let’s agree to disagree.

B: One week, one person, and about twenty of today’s phrases.

A: And not one of them needed a long sentence.

B: That’s the thing about B1. You don’t need complicated English. You need the right short sentence at the right moment.

Quick review

A: Six quick questions to finish. Answer in the pause, then listen for the answer.

B: No writing — just say it out loud.

A: A friend invites you to go rock climbing, and you don’t enjoy it. What can you say, kindly?

B: It’s not really my thing.

A: You’ve finished dinner, and you want to pay. What do you ask the server?

B: Could I get the check, please?

A: Your car has a problem, and you need to stop at the side of the road. What do you say?

B: I’m going to pull over.

A: A coworker asks you a question, and you don’t know the answer yet. What do you say?

B: I’ll get back to you.

A: You got to the movie theater just before the movie started. On time or in time?

B: In time. We got there just in time.

A: A friend should call the bank, and you don’t want to sound bossy. What do you say?

B: You might want to call the bank.

A: And that’s the month.

Outro

B: So that was September: thirty phrases, six groups, eleven episodes.

A: Free time and people. Eating out. Getting around. Work. Words people mix up. And opinions and politeness.

B: Every episode we mentioned today is linked below, so you can go back to any of them.

A: And if you want more practice, open the Recursio link below and review the phrases again — because what matters isn’t hearing them once, it’s coming back to them.

B: Thank you for a good month of listening.

A: See you in the next episode, and take care.